As the summer heat gives way to crisper temperatures of fall, it is a great time to add recipes featuring seasonal ingredients to switch up your eating plan. Incorporating nutritious snacks into your day is helpful to stave off excess hunger and keep energy levels sustained. Try these healthy and filling snack ideas featuring seasonal ingredients like pumpkin, apples and cranberries!
Apple Almond Energy Bites
These bites are very simple to make and require very few ingredients yet are quite tasty. They are lower in sugar but also filling since they have fiber and heathy fat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of dried apple rings (approximately 15-16 rings)
- 1/2 cup unsalted almond butter
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon of salt
- additional coconut to coat (optional)
- 1-2 teaspoons of honey or maple syrup (optional, if more sweetness desired)
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend for a few minutes until mostly smooth. Form into 14 balls and roll in coconut to coat. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Makes 14 bites, 14 servings
Serving size: 1 bite: Calories 95, Protein 2 g , Carb 7 g , Fiber 2 g, Sugars 4 g, Fat 7 g, Saturated fat 1 g, Sodium 50 mg
Pumpkin Oat Bars
Enjoy the flavors of fall which are incorporated in these vegan, gluten free bars with an almond butter base as a healthy source of protein and unsaturated fat.
Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy or crunchy unsalted natural almond butter
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 3/4 cup canned or fresh cooked pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 ¼ cup old fashioned oats
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tablespoon raisins
- Cooking spray
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile combine all the ingredients in a medium sized bowl and mix well. Press mixture into an 8 by 8-inch pan lined the pan generously coated with cooking spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes until set and lightly browned on top. Cut into squares and serve.
Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge to keep longer and pop them one at a time in the microwave for 10 seconds to warm them up for a nice treat!
Makes 16 bars
Serving size: 1 bar: Calories 100, Protein 3 g, Carb 13 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugars 7 g, Fat 5 g, Saturated fat 0 g, Sodium 0 mg
Cranberry Guacamole
You will be amazed at how cranberries can change your guacamole from being just ordinary to extraordinary! This makes a satisfying dip for veggies or whole grain crackers, and is chocked full of antioxidants.
Ingredients
- 2 small avocados or 1 large, peeled, pitted and mashed
- ½ of small jalapeno pepper or ¼ of a large, diced
- juice from ½ of a lime
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped cilantro
- a dash or two of garlic salt
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- (additional salt to taste)
- Makes 1.5 cups, 12 servings
Directions
Add all the above EXCEPT the cranberries to a food processor and puree until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl, stir in the cranberries and serve. If you do not have a food processor, just be sure to chop the cilantro/jalapeno very fine, mash the avocado well and mix all the ingredients together with a spoon in a small bowl.
Makes 1 ½ cups, 12 servings
Serving size: 2 tablespoons: Calories 40, Protein 1 g, Carbohydrates 4 g, Fiber 2 g, Sugars 3g, Fat 2.5 g, Saturated fat < 1 g, Sodium 60 mg